Bill-holdek



UiviTED sTATEs PATENT orrrou.

E. F. FRENCH, OF FRANKLIN, VERMONT.

BILL-HOLDER.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 16,829, dated March 17, 1857.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, E. F. FRENCH, of Franklin, in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Device or Implement for Holding Bills and other Papers, and which implement or device may be termed a Bill- File; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a side view of my improvement in an open state-Fig. 2, is a side view of ditto, in a closed state-Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section of ditto, m, Fig. 2, showing the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invent-ion consists in having a series of pockets placed between two stiff lids or covers, the pockets and lids being tted on a rod or axis which passes through their lower ends. The pockets and lids are connected at their lower ends and at one side by a cord which determines the length of the movement of the several pockets upon their axis. The whole being so arranged that when the device is closed the bills will be retained within a portable case and when the device is opened the pockets will be spread out, side by side, and the indorsements on the upper or outer ends of the bills fully exposed, so that any particular one may be instantly seen.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proc-eed to describe it.

A, A, represent the two lids or covers of the implement or device. These lids or covers are of rectangular form and may be constructed in any proper manner. Pasteboard, covered with book-binders cloth or leather will probably be generally used in constructing the lids or covers.

B, represents a series of pockets. These pockets are also of rectangular form and are equal in width to the lids or covers A, A, but are not equal to them in length. The pockets may be constructed of thin leather or pasteboard covered with muslin or cloth. The pockets B, are placed side by side and between the two lids or covers A, A, the lower or inner ends of the pockets and lids being flush with each other. Through the lower or inner ends of the pockets B, and lids A, a rod C, passes, the pockets and lids being secured on the rod by means of washers or heads a placed one on each end of said rod. The rod C, passes through the center of the lower ends of the pockets and lids; the pockets and lids being allowed to turn freely upon it.

To the lower ends of the pockets B, and lids A, A, and at one side of them, a cord b, is attached. This cord is secured to each pocket, so that a certain portion 0r length of cord is allowed between the pockets and a requisite degree of play or movement given each pocket. This cord I), is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3.

The bills, shown in red, are litted in the pockets B, the upper or guter ends of the bills being exposed or extending some distance beyond the ends of the pockets, about as far as the ends of the lids or covers A, A, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and-3.

From the above description of parts it will be seen that when the two lids or covers A, A, are moved or turned opposite each other, the pockets B, and bills will be inclosed between them; the lids or covers protecting the bills and forming a perfectcase or receptacle for them. And it will also be seen that by turning the lids, one or both, on the rod or axis C, the pockets B, will be also turned on the rod or axis C; the pockets being spread out in fan-form, as shown clearly in Fig. l, the length of the movement of the pockets being determined by the length ot the portions of cord b, between the pockets, which cord causes the several pockets to be moved or spread out consecutively as either or both of the lids or covers are turned or moved on the rod or axis C. The indorsements on the bills are fully exposed when the pockets are spread out, so that any particular bill sought after will be instantly seen.

By this implement 0r device the bills will not be soiled by repeated thumbing or lingering, as is the case with the usual bill files or holders-which are merely stiff lids or covers between which the bills are placed; one of the lids having a flap at one end, which, when turned over outward, allows a person to thumb over the ends of the bills to examine the indorsements.

The implement may be cheaply constructed, is not liable t0 get out of repair and Will be generally used, on account of the facility With which the bills or indorsements thereon are exposed.

Having thus described my invention, what 5 I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The pockets B, placed between the two lids or covers A, A, the pockets and lids being connected by a oord and having a rod or axis C, passing through them7 at one end, l0 substantially asherein shown and described for the purpose set Jforth.

E. F. FRENCH. Witnesses:

HENRY A. HINKLEY, AARON T. FRENCH. 

